“Within These Dreams”
The bison is the night—a guardian of slumber, carrying two sleeping children nestled against its sides. As they dream, their visions rise like whispers into the dark, glowing softly, weaving together across the bison’s back. Within these dreams, creatures of whimsy and wonder emerge, a testament to the boundless imagination of childhood.
The bison moves through the night, a protector and vessel, cradling innocence in a world where not every child has a safe place to rest. It is a symbol of shelter, resilience, and quiet strength. The children, luminous against the darkness, embody warmth, hope, and the light of creativity. Their dreams intertwine, a reminder of the beauty found in the shared experience of wonder and possibility.
Through this piece, I have found catharsis because of my lived experience as a survivor of abuse. Reading about the Toba Centre and their work with children brought up deep emotions that I have been carrying since my childhood, and through this work I have been able to transform those emotions and that lived experience into a work that not only brings light and beauty into the world, but carries with it a message of protection and safety for the sacred space that is childhood.
This creative process was one of the most cathartic experiences I have ever had creating, here is a small glimpse into that world… I will be forever grateful for this experience.
Laura Lee Harasym 